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Little Miss Foxy and her partner have been travelling again. This time we sent them off to the beautiful Careys Manor Hotel! Here is what they discovered….
What better way to spend a warm mid-September weekend than in the outstanding natural beauty in the New Forest.
When we were invited to visit the peaceful and charming Carey’s Manor House and SenSpa how could we ever say no?! This hotel has a formidable reputation and we were keen to discover for ourselves if it was as good as people say, trust me we were not disappointed!
Carey’s Manor is a majestic Victorian Manor House nestled just a stones throw from the new forest national park and Solent, yet provides the most perfect and tranquil wellness get away.
Being 35 weeks pregnant, moving to a new home, preparing for a new baby and my partners birthday just around the corner – I thought this would be the perfect retreat!
We, of course, wanted to make the most of our weekends get away so our first stop to visit was the luxurious Senspa. Upon visiting and spending the afternoon here, you can see just why it was voted ‘The Best Spa in the South-East’ 4 years running. SenSpa provides an authentic 5* Thai experience, from their treatments to exceptional facilities. Myself and my partner both had massages carried out, and can vouch for the professionalism of the therapists and the large, tranquil, traditional therapy rooms; of which there are 19.
My partner had the anti stress 45 minute massage due to his work as an engineer and the constant strain on his body, it was his first ever massage experience and simply loved it!
The spa also offer 1 hour long pregnancy massages which I opted for and it was fantastic!
After our massages we went to explore the spa facilities which truly are second to none. Carey’s Manor SenSpa provides a large selection of facilities which include a hydrotherapy pool, herbal sauna, crystal steam room, tepidarium and laconicum, ice room and experience showers to relax, revitalise and invigorate your senses.
The spa is the perfect way to relax after and several hours completely zoning out, we slipped on our robes and slippers and headed out to the zen garden Restaurant where you can enjoy authentic Thai cuisine, or afternoon tea, Prosecco, tea/coffee, or a selection of healthy detox thirst quenchers.) you can choose to either sit inside the restaurant, or outside in the peaceful courtyard garden with a small pond, water features and natural wildlife which enhances the whole experience.
It was now way past our check in time, so we decided to check in and visit our contemporary garden room. The garden rooms are either on ground floor with a small garden area with a table and chairs to sit outside your room, or a first floor room with large doors (the middle one fully opens with a mesh for security and safety) we stayed in a first floor room which was light, spacious, airy and finished to a high specification throughout. The room was packed with thoughtful little extras, showing the detail, care and attention that is put into enhancing guest experience.
After checking out our room and undertaking the obligatory run and jump on the bed it was time to get ready for dinner. (The jump and run is something we have done for many years, it is always the first thing we do when reviewing a hotel – surely everyone does this?!).
We had dinner booked in at the Cambium restaurant, which is located at the heart of the hotel. The staff and surroundings of the cambium are simply stunning and relaxed, the restaurant, lounge and bar areas are tastefully designed with country chic surroundings to encapsulate you into a real new forest experience. Being vegetarian myself, and my partner a strong meat eater we sampled a range of foods at the cambium.
I choose to eat from their vegan menu and had the carrot & ginger tortellini, carrot Bhaji, corriander
Tempura summer vegetables, red pepper sauce and basil pesto
A chocolate avocado moose desert
My partner also choose from the specials menu and had
Haricot bean soup, grilled octopus & chorizo
Steak with tenderstem broccoli
Selection of cheeses with port
The food was exceptional and really does speak for itself. The service is also incredible, friendly, polite and relaxed. Drinks are regularly attended too, bread is brought over at the start of your meal and the timings between each course are just right. There is no question or request that the waiting staff do not deliver without a wide smile.
We retreated to bed around 10:30 ready for a packed Sunday!
We start Sunday where we finished Saturday, back at the Cambium for breakfast. There is a large selection of buffet style hot and cold breakfasts on offer (on the most gorgeous handcrafted wooden table) or a menu which you can order from. The breakfast again is divine and relaxed with fantastic service. We then retreated back for a quick trip to the spa before hitting the motorway on our journey home.
Our stay at Carey’s Manor truly was exceptional and the perfect pre-baby get away!